Write an effective cover letter for your journal submission

After dedicating months or even years to compiling your research into a comprehensive 5000-word document, ensuring it meets the journal’s formatting and editing standards, you find yourself facing one final hurdle: the submission process often requires a cover letter.

Most journals offer explicit guidance on the content of cover letters. While certain essential details must be included, the cover letter provides an opportunity to set a distinctive tone and highlight the uniqueness of your manuscript within the field. An effective cover letter persuades the editor of the novelty and significance of your findings, demonstrating the relevance of your study to the journal’s scope. A mere listing of basic information such as the paper title, journal name, and contact details of the corresponding author adds minimal value to the submission process.

While various journal article editing services exist, not all of them offer cover letter preparation or editing. Typically, these services will edit your cover letter if it’s submitted alongside the manuscript. However, with IRP Editing Service, our approach differs. Our editors not only edit your manuscript but also craft a tailored cover letter after thoroughly understanding your work. If you need assistance in creating a compelling cover letter, seek out journal article editing services that offer comprehensive support for the entire submission package—manuscript and cover letter included.

An effective cover letter should include the following components:

• Title of the paper and corresponding author details: While it might appear self-evident to include these particulars, it’s crucial to explicitly mention them in your cover letter.

• Summary of your findings: Please summarize the key findings of your study in a non-technical manner. You may address the following questions to underscore the significance of your research:
• How does my research contribute to the existing body of knowledge?
• Do my results contradict or support the findings of a pivotal paper in the field?
• What sets this study apart from others?
• What notable future implications does this study present?

• Motivation for submitting to the journal: Include a line or two about how your study is within the scope of the journal and what about the study would be of interest to the journal’s readership.
• Ethical approval: If ethical considerations arise, please indicate whether your study received approval from the institutional review board. For clinical trials, specify that informed consent was obtained and include the registration/approval number as required by some journals.
• Conflict of interest: Mention whether there are any potential conflicts of interests.

• Originality and author agreement: Please confirm that the manuscript has not been submitted for consideration by any other journal and that all authors have thoroughly reviewed the manuscript and unanimously agreed to its submission to this particular journal.
• Preferred and non-preferred reviewers: Many journals recommend authors to suggest preferred reviewers as it can facilitate a quicker review process. Authors should carefully select reviewers, ensuring they have no conflicts of interest. It’s also important to identify any reviewers who should be excluded due to existing conflicts of interest. However, it’s crucial to note that the journal editor has the sole discretion in selecting reviewers and may or may not accept your suggestions.

The cover letter serves as your opportunity to effectively market your research article and pique the interest of the journal editor. It should extend beyond a mere request for consideration of publication, aiming to engage the editor and highlight the unique contributions and significance of your work.